Late Breakers Mycology Virology Bacteriology Parasitology HIV Bioterrorism STDs Continuous Quality Improvement Hepatitis Student Posters MRSA Transport Media Enteric Bacterial Disease Laboratory Surveillance

Late Breakers
LB1 - Evaluation of Two Swab Transport Systems and the Recovery of Anaerobic Bacteria After Variable Incubations. C. L. BROSNIKOFF,* R. P. RENNIE, and L. C. TURNBULL ¹. University of Alberta Hospitals and Medical Microbiology and Public Health, Edmonton, AB, CANADA.

LB2 - Characterization of an Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase Implicated in a Potential Community Outbreak of E. Coli. K. Hagedorn¹, E. Liew¹, E. Blondel-Hill¹, M. Mulvey⁴, M. Johnson³, R. Rennie¹, G. Taylor¹, M. Joffe¹, J. Pitout⁵, M. Louie ^{1, 2 1}. University of Alberta, Edm, AB ²Provincial Laboratory for Public Health (Microbiology), AB ³Capital Health Authority, Edm, AB ⁴National Microbiology Laboratory, Winnipeg, MB ⁵University of Calgary, AB.

LB 3 - A Report on the First Human Cases of Endemic West Nile Infection in Canada. M. Fearon*¹, H. Artsob², M. Drebot², M. Andonova², W. Chiang¹, P. Simmons¹, G. ChenSee¹, L. Papageorgiou¹, E. Cheung¹, P. George¹, I. Guglielmi¹, N. Rau³, H. Shapiro⁴, B. Nosal⁵, M. Finkelstein⁶, Heimann⁷, C. LeBer⁸, D. Middleton⁸¹. Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, Laboratories Branch and ⁸Public Health Branch; ²National Microbiology Lab, Health Canada Winnipeg; ³Credit Valley Hospital and Halton Healthcare Services;⁴ Peel Health Dept; ⁵Halton Region Health Dept; ⁶Toronto Public Health; ⁷Windsor-Essex County Health Unit.

LB 4 - A Three Year Review Of Urinary Tract Infections In Patients Of A Nephrology Ward In Prishtin Kosovo. G. Mulliqi-Osmani. Microbiology Laboratory, National Institute of Public Health of Kosova, and Faculty of Medicine, University of Prishtin, Prishtin, Kosovo.

LB 5 - Comparison of Two Transport Media for Viral Isolation. S. CASTRICIANO*, M. BOOTH, C. ROBINSON, M. MACPHERSON, R. SERVEDIO, A. CAMPANELLA, and M. SMIEJA. St. Joseph's Healthcare, Hamilton, ON.

C6 Evaluation of EIA Kits for the Detection of WNV Antibodies. C. CLAESSENS*, R. MANTHA, M. FAUVEL, M. COUILLARD. Laboratoire de santpublique du Quebec-INSPQ, Saint


Mycology
P 3 - Evaluation of Auxacolor 2 (BioRad) for the Identification of Yeasts. P. KASTNER*, C. SAND, R.P. RENNIE. National Centre for Mycology, University of Alberta Hospital, Edmonton, Alberta.

P 4 - Eight Year Analysis of Antifungal Susceptibility Testing of Yeasts and Filamentous Fungi. R.P. RENNIE* AND C. SAND. National Centre for Mycology, University of Alberta Hospital, Edmonton, Alberta. R.P. RENNIE* AND C. SAND. National Centre for Mycology, University of Alberta Hospital, Edmonton, Alberta.


Virology
C 1 - Comparison of Rapid Rotavirus and Adenovirus Testing Using the Rota/Adeno Combi-Sticks and Electron Microscopy. S. CASTRICIANO*, M. SMIEJA, F.M. SMAILL. McMaster University, Hamilton, ON.

C 2 - Monoplex and Multiplex NASBA Assays for Detection of RNA Respiratory Viruses. Julie D Fox¹ ,* Samantha Hibbitts¹, Amanna Rahman^1,2 , Rhiannon John¹ and Diana Westmoreland². Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Wales College of Medicine¹ , University Hospital of Wales² , Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK.

C 3 - A Two Year Surveillance of Norwalk-like Virus Gastroenteritis Outbreaks in British Columbia. A. McNabb*, R. Chen, M. Lee, L. McIntyre, J. Fung and J. Isaac-Renton. Laboratory Services, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, and University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia.

C 4 - Epidemiology of Norwalk virus in Gastroenteritis Outbreak in Northern Alberta 1999-2002. B. LEE,* E. ASHTON, L.CHUI. Provincial Laboratory for Public Health (Microbiology), Edmonton, Alberta.

C 5 - Circulating Chlamydia pneumoniae-DNA and Cytomegalovirus-DNA in Coronary Angioplasty Patients and Family Practice Controls. M. SMIEJA*, M. NATARAJAN, A. PETRICH, J. MUNOZ, D. PRICE,J. KACZOROWSKI, S. CHONG, J.B. MAHONY. McMaster University, Hamilton, ON.

K1 - Evaluation of a New Rapid Test for Detection of Respiratory Syncytial Virus. B.C. SCHIEVEN¹*, J. ALDOM², and K. DIRSE¹. Stratford General Hospital, Stratford ON¹, Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, Public Health Laboratory, London, ON.

K 2 - Utility of R-Mix (MinkLung/A549) Cells for Rapid Detection of Influenza A and B in a Diagnostic Virology Laboratory. G. McNABB*, R. GILLIES, D. LAWRENCE, B. HOY, T. HO, R. MA. British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Dept. of Path and Lab Med, University of British Columbia.

K 3 - Detection of RSV by Abbott TestPack at Kingston General Hospital. T. M. KARNAUCHOW¹,²*, D. SIKORA³, and P. SANKAR^2,3. ¹Department of Pathology, Kingston General Hospital,² Queens University, and ³Kingston Public Health Laboratory, Kingston, ON.

K 4 - One Year Experience with RT-PCR in the Rapid Detection of Influenza A/B in Health Care Facilities. R.BETHUNE, J. ARBIQUE, S.LEE, K. FORWARD, D. HALDANE, R. DAVIDSON. Division of Microbiology, Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre, Halifax, NS.

K 5 - Primate Herpesviruses Relevant to the Clinical Laboratory Detected by a Comprehensive PCR Test for Human Herpesviruses. G. JOHNSON, D. DICK¹, M.AYERS, M.PETRIC and R.TELLIER*. Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto and ¹Canadian Science Centre for Human and Animal Health, Winnipeg.

P 6 - Assessment of IgM Enzyme Immunoassays for the Diagnosis of Measles. G. TIPPLES¹*, R. HAMKAR², T. MOKHTARI-AZAD², M. GRAY¹, G. PARKYN¹, C. HEAD³, AND S. RATNAM³. National Microbiology Laboratory, Winnipeg MB; ² Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran; ³ Newfoundland Public Health Laboratory, St. Johns NF.

P 7 - Development of a Recombinant Antigen Based ELISA for the Detection of HHV-6-specific antibodies. G. PARKYN* and G. TIPPLES. Viral Exanthemata, National Microbiology Laboratory, Health Canada, Winnipeg MB.

P 9 - Detection and Species Identification by PCR of Human Polyomaviruses BK and JC. G. JOHNSON, J. NISHIKAWA, M. PETRIC and R. TELLIER*. Div. of Microbiology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto.

P 18 - NucliSens Basic Kit NASBA with End-point and Real-time Detection for Diagnosis of Enterovirus Infection. JULIE D. FOX¹,* P. SILLEKENS², M. VAN DE WIEL-VAN DE MEER² AND H. FOOLEN². Department of Medical Microbiology¹, UWCM, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK. BioMerieux Ltd², Boxtel, The Netherlands.

P 19 - Performance Evaluation of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Testing Methods between Abbott TestPack RSV and Merifluor RSV. B. A. LEBLANC,* B. LEE, J. GALBRAITH, A. SENTHILSELVAN, J. K. PREIKSAITIS. Provincial Laboratory for Public Health (Microbiology), Edmonton, Alberta. Dynacare Medical Laboratories, Edmonton, Alberta. Faculty of Medicine, University of Alberta.

P21 - Diagnosis of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy infection using infra-red spectroscopy and magentic resonance imaging. T. Booth, Richard Baydack¹, Janie Dubois², Michael Jackson². Health Canada¹, NML, Winnipeg; NRC Institute for Biodiagnostics², Winnipeg, MB.


Bacteriology
B 1 - Yield of Broth Cultures of Sterile Body Fluids. T.MAZZULLI*, M. SKULNICK, C. POULOS. TML/MSH Microbiology Department, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

B 2 - Tip Cultures - Correlation of Clinical and Microbiological Diagnosis. ELIZABETH THOMAS, CAROL BARTH, KANCHANA MANICKAM. Regina General Hospital, Regina, SK.

P 5 - PCR Detection of Putative Periodontal Pathogens and their Prevalence. PADMAN JAYARATNE. Hamilton Regional Lab. Med. Program, Hamilton, ON.

P 10 - Efficacy of Using 16S rRNA Sequence Data from Genbank as a Means of Identifying Catalase-Negative Gram-Positive Cocci. A. MCNABB*, RICHARD PARKES and J.ISAAC-RENTON. Laboratory Services, BC Centre for Disease Control and University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia.

P 11 - Early Experience with 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing for the Identification of Bacterial Pathogens. ARBIQUE J, BETHUNE R, FORWARD K, HALDANE D, DAVIDSON RJ. Division of Microbiology, Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre, Halifax, NS.

P 12 - Conventional Methods versus 16S rDNA Sequencing in the Identification of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria: A Cost Analysis. J. WOLFE*, V. J. COOK, C. Y. TURENNE, R. PAULS AND A. M. KABANI. National Reference Centre for Mycobacteriology, National Microbiology Laboratory, Population and Public Health Branch, Health Canada, and Dept. of Clinical Microbiology, Health Science Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

P 13 - Identification of Clinical Mycobacterium species Using Partial Sequencing of the 65 kilodalton Heat Shock Protein Gene(hsp65). D. Eisler, A. McNabb*, R. Parkes, M. Amos, B. Black and J. Isaac-Renton. Laboratory Services, B.C. Centre for Disease Control and University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia.

P 27 - Performance of the Oxoid Cathra Replianalyzer III with Autoreader for the identification of clinical Gram negative bacteria using an automated biochemical identification assay. G.NYMAN*¹, D.THOMPSON¹, R.MURPHY¹, T.FARNCOMBE¹, F.CHAN², N.STEWART², 1: Oxoid Inc. Nepean. ON. Canada. 2: Childrens Hospital of Eastern Ontario. Ottawa, ON. Canada.

P 28 - Comparison of Mast Bacteruritest with Calibrated Loop Method for Urine Culture in Kosova. L. BERISHA¹, G. MULLIQI-OSMANI¹, J.S. THOMPSON^2,3, D.S. THOMPSON², and H. RICHARDSON⁴. Microbiology Laboratory, Institute of Public Health of Kosova, Prishtina, Kosova¹, Thompson Consulting, Kirkfield, ON², Med-Ox Diagnostics Inc, Ottawa, ON³ and Quality Management Program - Laboratory Services, Toronto, ON⁴.

P 30 - Outbreak of Arcanobacterium haemolyticum Pharyngitis Among Young Adults in Halifax, Nova Scotia. DAVIDSON RJ, COOPER G, GILLIS J, HALDANE D, FORWARD KR. Division of Microbiology, Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre, Halifax, NS.

P 34 - Evaluation of Boric Acid and Mercuric Oxide Tablets for the Preservation of Urine for Delayed Urinalysis. S.J.FINN*, K. BAKER, R.RINN. Starplex Scientific Inc., Etobicoke, Southlake Regional Health Centre, Newmarket, On, Canada.


Parasitology
L 2 - Frequency of Infection and Coinfection with Intestinal Protozoa in Central Nova Scotia. D.J.M.HALDANE, K.R.FORWARD, R.J.DAVIDSON. Division of Microbiology, Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia.

P 16 - Development of a Real-Time PCR for the Rapid Detection of Malaria in Blood Specimens. A. PETRICH*, M. SMIEJA, W. MACQUEEN, E. KOKOSKIN, B. WARD, D. MACPHERSON, Y. AL-FIFI and K. LUINSTRA. McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, McGill University, Montreal, QC.

P17 - A Comparison of Wet Mount and PCR for the detection of Trichomonas vaginalis in Women Attending a STD Clinic. C. LEE*, M CHERNESKY, D FISMAN, D JANG, J MAHONY, A PETRIC, J. MCGOWAN, M SMIEJA. Hamilton Regional Laboratory Medicine Program. McMaster University, St. Josephs Healthcare and City of Hamilton Public Health, Hamilton, Ontario.


HIV
A 1 - Identification of Mutations within the Long-Terminal Repeat (LTR) of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Effect on Transcriptional Activity using a Reporter Gene system. Z. CHEN, K. COPELAND, M. FIEBIG and J.E.KIM. National Laboratory for HIV Reference Services, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, Ottawa Health Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario.

A 2 - Improved Uptake of HIV Testing Among Pregnant Women In Ontario: Results of the HIV Seroprevalence Study to March 2002. REMIS RS¹, SWANTEE C* ²,MAJOR C², FEARON M², WALLACE E², MILLSON P¹, CALZAVARA L¹, REA E¹, VERMEULEN M¹, WHITTINGHAM E¹, PALMER RWH¹, WU K². Department of Public Health Sciences¹,University of Toronto; Laboratory Branch and Public Health Branch², Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.

A 3 - Genetic Variability and Identification of HIV-1 non-subtype B and HIV-2 Strains in Canada. Potential Implication in HIV Diagnostic PCR and Clinical Monitoring Tests. J.E. KIM, Z.CHEN, D. KO, J.MIHOWICH, M. FIEBIG AND CANADIAN STAKEHOLDER LABS. National Laboratory for HIV Reference Services, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON.

A 4 - Point of Care Testing for HIV: Easy to do! Hard to Quality Assure! G. McNABB*, J. BURGOYNE, L. DIFRANCESCO, M. REKART, J.MONTANER, D. COOK, M. KRAJDEN. British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, AIDS Research Programme, St. Pauls Hospital, Dept of Path and Lab Med, and Dept of Medicine, University of British Columbia.

A 5 - Herpes Virus Shedding in Saliva of HIV Patients and Controls. H. SARANTIS, I. SALIT1, R. TELLIER, M. PETRIC*. The Hospital for Sick Children, and The Toronto Hospital, Toronto, Ontario.


Bioterrorism
E 1 - Public Health Laboratory Response to Bioterrorism in Ontario. M.FEARON, G.RILEY, I.GUGLIELMI, A.TAMBURRI, S.BROWN, G.BRAGAGNOLO, E.KRISTJANSON, R.FREITAG, F.JAMIESON, and the BT Response Team, Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, Laboratories Branch, Toronto, Ontario.

E 2 - Rapid and Safe Laboratory Diagnosis of Orthopoxvirus Infections: a Dual Approach Using Modified Electron Microscopy and PCR. M. PETRIC, G. JOHNSON, J.NISHIKAWA, D. ADACHI and R.TELLIER*. Div. of Microbiology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto.

E 3 - Creation and Deployment of a Mobile Containment Level (CL) 3 Laboratory for on-site, Counter Bioterrorism activities. L.SHUTTLEWORTH¹, C.MUNRO¹, K.BERNARD¹, Special Bacteriology¹ and M. HEISZ², J. PEEKE² and CEPR OLS², Health Canada (HC) NML Winnipeg MB¹, and CEPR, Ottawa ON2.

E 4 - Tularemia: Analysis of 26 Cases during the Period 1975-2001 at a Regional Hospital, Quebec, Canada. Tularemia: Analysis of 26 Cases during the Period 1975-2001 at a Regional Hospital, Quebec, Canada. P. JUTRAS*, H. BERNATCHEZ, P. DOLCE F. TOURANGEAU, J. LAMOUREUX.

E 5 - Vaccinia Virus: A Paradigm for the Laboratory Investigation of Smallpox. S.H.S. LEE. Div. of Microbiology, Dept. of Pathology Lab Medicine, QEII Health Sciences Centre, Halifax, N.S.

P 23 - Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Disk Diffusion Testing of Bacillus anthracis. C. L. BROSNIKOFF¹*, R. P. RENNIE¹, P. G. KASTNER¹, G. TIFFIN², L. C. TURNBULL¹.


STDs
J 1 - Effect of Specimen Processing and Strength or Time of Addition of a Chlamydia trachomatis “Spike on the Rate of Apparent LCx Assay Inhibitors in Urine. S. CHONG* D. JANG, and M. CHERNESKY. St. Joseph’s Healthcare, Father Sean O’Sullivan Research Centre and McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.

J 2 - Recovery of Herpes simplex type 1 (HSV-1) from Patients with Genital Herpes in Nova Scotia. K.R. FORWARD and S.H S. LEE. Depts. of Pathology, Medicine, and Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie U and the Queen Elizabeth II HSC.

J 3 - Evaluation of Five Rapid Tests for Syphilis. Y. SIMPSON*, Q.WONG and M.MORSHED. Laboratory Services, BC Centre for Disease Control and Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UBC, Vancouver, British Columbia.

J 4 - Operational Throughput Comparison of Five Chlamydia trachomatis Commercial Nucleic Acid Amplification (NAA) Assays on Swabs and Urines. M. CHERNESKY*, X. SONG, S. CHONG and D. JANG. St. Joseph’s Healthcare, Father Sean O’Sullivan Research Centre and McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.

J 5 - Increase in Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) Detection Attributable to Switching to Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). K. R. FORWARD, Depts. of Pathology, Medicine, and Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie U and the Queen Elizabeth II HSC, Halifax, NS.


Continuous Quality Improvement
P 1 - A Self-Audit Process: One Component of a Quality Management Program. M.A. NOBLE, D.L. ROSCOE, A. KWONG, F. LEE. Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. Vancouver Hospital and Health Sciences Center, Vancouver, B.C.

B 3 - Blood Culture Practices in Ontario. H. RICHARDSON, C.A. FLEMING, D. ZOUTMAN and the MICROBIOLOGY COMMITTEE. Quality Management Program Laboratory Services, Toronto, Ontario.

B 4 - Visual Inspection to Assess Volume in Blood Culture Bottles. M.A. NOBLE, D.L. ROSCOE, E.A. BRYCE, A. KWONG, F. LEE. Vancouver Hospital and Health Sciences Center, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Vancouver, B.C.

B 5 - Pre-analytic Handling of Midstream Urine Culture. M.A. NOBLE.¹ S. NIKIFORUK ¹, P.J. LANDOLFO²* ¹. Clinical Microbiology Proficiency Testing Program, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia; ²Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, Grace General Hospital, Winnipeg, MB.

P 22 - Impact on Testing and the Cost of a Serological Clarification Form in Improving Submitters Utilization of IgM Assays. B. LEE,* H. GUNNING, A. CHOW, R. MAIER, M. EVANS, S. CUMMING, J. PREIKSIATIS. Provincial Laboratory for Public Health (Microbiology), Alberta, Canada.


Hepatitis
H 1 - Evaluation of Ortho-trak-CTM Assay to Detect HCV core Antigen in Serum. R. SHIVJI, G. McNABB*, A. MAK, D. COOK, M. KRAJDEN. British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia.

H 2 - Characterization of Hepatitis C Virus Quasispecies by MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry Mutation Detection. M. AYERS, K.SIU, E. ROBERTS, J.BUKH¹, A.M. GARVIN² and R.TELLIER*. Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto and National Institutes of Health, Bethesda USA and ²Applera Deutchland Gmbh Applied Biosystems, Weiterstadt, Germany.

H 3 - Trac: A Hepatitis C Screening, Algorithm, Alternative. K. NICHOLAS, V. MUNRO, G. HAWES, C. DELIMA, D. MCFARLANE, S. NAGRA, O. WOODS, S. HUNG, T. MAZZILLI, M. FEARON,MD; Ontario Ministry Of Health and Long-Term Care, Toronto, Ontario.

H 4 - Genotyping of Hepatitis B Virus by a Restriction Digest Algorithm. E. GILES* and C. OSIOWY Bloodborne Pathogens and Hepatitis, Canadian Science Centre for Human and Animal Health, National Microbiology Laboratory, Health Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

H 5 - Distribution of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Genotypes Across Canada. R. GARCEAU¹*, L. THIBAULT¹, M. MALLET², G. MCNABB³, L. CHUI⁴, G. SMART⁵, K. NICHOLAS⁶, D. MURPHY⁷, S. LEE⁸, S. RATNAM⁹, ¹Hopital Dr G.L. Dumont, ²Pohes et Oceans Canada, Moncton, N.B., ³BCCDC, Vancouver, BC, ⁴Alberta Prov. Lab., Edmonton, AB, ⁵Candham Prov. Lab., Winnipeg, MAN, ⁶Ontario Prov. Lab., Toronto, ON, ⁷LSPQ, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, ⁸QE2, Halifax, NS, ⁹Public Health Lab., St John’s, NF.

H 6 - HCV Genotypes in Northern Alberta from 1999-2002. L. CHUI,* G. CHAN, J. KAKULPHIMP and Y-W HU. Provincial Laboratory for Public Health (Microbiology), Edmonton, Alberta. Canadian Blood Services, Ottawa, Canada.


Student Posters
SP 1 - Magnitude and Characteristics of HIV Positive Cases in Southern Alberta in 2001. K. R. BUSH*¹, G. C. JAYARAMAN^1,2, K. FONSECA ², B. LEE², and J. P. PREIKSAITIS². Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, ²Provincial Laboratory for Public Health (Microbiology), Alberta.

SP 2 - The Effect of Laboratory Regionalization on Turn-Around Times. P. TANG*, J. JAMIESON, P. LO, K. WONG, M. SKULNICK, and T. MAZZULLI. Toronto Medical Laboratories/Mount Sinai Hospital, and Department of Microbiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario.

SP 3 - Expression of a Trivalent Pertussis, Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxin Fusion Protein in Escherichia coli and Streptococcus mutans. S. SIVAM, C.W. LEE, S.F. LEE, S.A. HALPERIN. Depts of Applied Oral Sciences, Pediatrics, Microbiology Immunology, Dalhousie University and IWK Health Centre, Halifax, NS.

SP 4 - Clostridium difficile on a Neurology Unit: Infection Control or Antibiotic Utilization? B. J. MACK ¹*, T. KIRKLAND ², G. TAYLOR ^1,2. Division of Infectious Diseases ¹ and Infection Control Unit ² University of Alberta Hospital and University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta.

SP 5 - Possible Ganciclovir Resistant Human Herpesvirus 6 in an Infant/ D. SAFRONETZ¹*, M. PETRIC², R. TELLIER², B. PARVEZ²and G.TIPPLES^1,3. Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg MB1; Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto ON²; National Microbiology Laboratory, Health Canada, Winnipeg MB³.

SP 6 - The Molecular Basis of Cephamycin Resistance in Escherichia coli Strains at the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre. B. CLARKE, H. MUSGRAVE, M. HILTZ, AND K.R FORWARD. Departments of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, and Medicine, Dalhousie University, and The Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre, Halifax, NS.

SP 7 - Use of Inducible Promoters in the Expression of Bordetella pertussis. PAULA MALLALEY*1, S. F. LEE1, S.A. HALPERIN. Dalhousie University, 2IWK Health Center, Halifax, N.S.

SP 8 - Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Blood Culture Isolates of Coagulase Negative Staphylococci (CNST) When Tested Individually and in Combinations. N. SPREMULLI*, B. MUSTACHI, P. LO, T. MAZZULLI. TML/MSH Microbiology Department, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

SP 9 - RNA Isolation from Purified Cytomegalovirus Virions. L. SARCINELLA*, M. BROWN, M. PETRIC and T. MAZZULLI. Departments of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, Medical Genetics and Microbiology, University of Toronto, Departments of Microbiology, of The Hospital for Sick Children, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada.

SP 10 - Immunogenicity of a Recombinant Bordetella pertussis S1S3FHA Fusion Protein Expressed by Streptococcus gordonii. J. B. KNIGHT*, A. TAIT, S. F. LEE and S. A. HALPERIN. Dept. of Applied Oral Sciences, Dept. of Microbiology Immunology, Dept. of Pediatrics, Dalhousie University, IWK Health Center, Halifax, NS, Canada.

SP 11 - Activity of BMS 284756 Against Molecularly Characterized Ciprofloxacin-Resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae Isolates. H. J. SMITH*, K. A. NICHOL, L. PALATNICK, B. WESHNOWESKI, D. J. HOBAN, and G. G. ZHANEL. University of Manitoba and Health Sciences Centre, Winnipeg, MB. WINNER OF THE 2002 CCM AWARD.

SP 12 - Respiratory Acid-Fast Bacilli Stain Turnaround Times. K. C. KATZ* 1,A. J. MCGEER1,3, F. B. JAMIESON2,, P. CHEDORE2, T. MAZZULLI1,3. Toronto Medical Laboratories/Mount Sinai Hospital Department of Microbiology1, Central Public Health Laboratory2, University of Toronto3,, Toronto, ON, Canada.

SP 13 - Expression of Macrolide Efflux is Inducible in Clinical Isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae Isolated in Canada A. K. WIERZBOWSKI*1, K. A. NICHOL1, D. BOYD2, D. J. HOBAN1, M. MULVEY2, and G. G. ZHANEL1. University of Manitoba and Health Sciences Centre1, and Health Canada2, Winnipeg, MB.

SP 14 - Susceptibility of Haemophilus influenzae to Macrolides and Ketolides: Results of the Canadian Respiratory Organism Susceptibility Study (CROSS) 1997-2002. M. DECORBY*, L. PALATNICK, N. LAING, A. WIERZBOWSKI, K. NICHOL, D. J. HOBAN, and G. G. ZHANEL. Health Sciences Centre and University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB.

SP 15 - Characterization of Fluoroquinolone-Resistant (FQ-R) Commensal Flora Viridans Group Streptococci (VGS). T. LEE, D. KUMAR, A. HUMAR, J. LIPTON, J. BRANDWEIN, G. MIYATA, Y. RZAYEV, C. DUNCAN, B. M. WILLEY, A. MCGEER. TML/Mount Sinai Hospital, Univ. of Toronto, Toronto, ON. WINNER OF THE 2002 AMMO AWARD.

SP 16 - The Fate of Rejected Sputums and Impact of Repeat Specimens. C. PEPPERELL*, M. SKULNICK, K. WONG, D. E. LOW, T. MAZZULLI. TML/MSH Microbiology Department, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

SP17 - Ochrobactrum anthropi and Peritonitis in Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis Patients. U. CHANDRAN¹,* G. TAYLOR¹, B. SUTHERLAND¹, T. KIRKLAND¹, and M. LOUIE². Winner of the 2002 CAMM Award.


MRSA
D 1 - Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Surveillance in Canada, 1995-2001. A.E. SIMOR, M. OFNER-AGOSTINI, M. MULVEY, A. McGEER, E. BRYCE, M. LOEB, S. PATON, L. LOUIE, and the CANADIAN NOSOCOMIAL INFECTION SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM (CNISP).

D 2 - Mupirocin Resistance in Methicillin Resistance Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) in the Niagara Region, Ontario. C. ONEILL¹, L. VANZUILEN¹, S. DUNNETT², B. WILEY³, A. SARABIA¹, D. YAMAMURA¹.¹ MDS Laboratories, ²Niagara Health System,³Mt. Sinai, Ontario.

D 3 - Reduction in Rate of Nosocomial MRSA with the Implementation of Screening High-risk Patients on Admission Program. C. LEE*, M. GRIFFITH-TURNER, J. KORVER, F. SMAILL. Hamilton Regional Laboratory Medicine Program. McMaster University.

D 4 - Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Detection with Brain Heart Infusion Ceftizoxime and Aztreonam Broth (BHI-CA) and Oxacillin Resistance Screening Agar Base (ORSAB). R. SLINGER*, A. LEE, C. MARTEL, I. GABOURY, P. JESSAMINE, K. RAMOTAR, B. TOYE. Division of Microbiology, The Ottawa Hospital, University of Ottawa, Chalmers Research Group, Childrens Hospital of Eastern Ontario.

D 5 - Modified Tube Coagulase Assay for the Detection of Canadian Epidemic Clones of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus. L. LOUIE, D. SOARES, AND A.E. SIMOR. Sunnybrook and Women’s College HSC, and the Univ. of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

P 32 - Distribution of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Regina Health District - Nosocomial vs Community Acquired. CAROL BARTH, ELIZABETH THOMAS, KANCHANA MANICKAM. Regina Health District, Regina, SK, Canada.


Transport Media
L 1 - Viability of Aerobic and Anaerobic Bacteria at 4^oC and 22^oC in Two Different Transport Systems. S.A. BROWN, J.E. BLAIR, G. RILEY and F. JAMIESON. Ontario Ministry of Health LTC, Laboratories Branch, Toronto, ON, CANADA.

L 3 - Evaluation of the Starplex Multitrans Transport Media S160 stored at room temperature Vs 4^oC. G. Blackwell*, F. Jamieson, M. Fearon, L. Burton, K. Rohoman, R. Bosy. Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Laboratories Branch, 81 Resources Road, Etobicoke, ON. Ca. M9P 3T1.

L 4 - Validation of Methodologies Described in NCCLS Document M40-P Quality Control of Microbiological Transport Devices. ARBIQUE J,* CAMPBELL S, MACFARLANE M, and DAVIDSON R. Division of Microbiology, Queen Elizabeth II HSC, Halifax, N.S.

L 5 - Comparison of Two Swab Transport Systems Using Two Evaluation Methodologies. B.C. SCHIEVEN*, D. FARRELL, J. CARNIATO. Gamma-Dynacare Medical Laboratories, London, ON.

P 15 - Comparative Study of Two Transport Systems (Copan Easy-FlowTM and Starplex STARSWAB IIR) using the Direct Plating and Vortex Method, Following Incubation at Room Temperature. M.Sarina*, B.Knoll, The Credit Valley Hospital, Mississauga, ON.


Enteric Bacterial Disease
F 1 - A New Emerging Shigella Serotype - Shigella boydii 20. D. L. WOODWARD*¹, R. CALDEIRA², R. AHMED1, G. SOULE¹, C. G. CLARK¹ , L. BRYDEN¹, P. MELITO¹, H. TABOR¹, R. FOSTER¹, J. WALSH¹, G. B. MALCOLM³ and N. STROCKBINE³. National Laboratory for Enteric Pathogens (NLEP), National Microbiology Laboratory, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3E 3R2, ²Bureau of Microbial Hazards, Tunneys Pasture, Ottawa On. K1A OL2, ³Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333.

F 2 - Emergence of Multi-drug Resistance in E. coli O157:H7 in Canada. WALTER DEMCZUK*, DEREK OZUNKO, GEOFF SOULE, CLIFFORD CLARK AND RAFIQ AHMED. National Laboratory for Enteric Pathogens, National Microbiology Laboratory , Population and Public Health Branch, Health Canada, 1015 Arlington St., Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

F 3 - Comparison of Plasmids from Human E. coli (EC) and Animal Salmonella Serovars (SSv) Possessing blaCMY-2. K.R.FORWARD¹, Dalhousie U¹, Halifax, A. McGEER², and L. BURROWS², U of Toronto², Toronto, K. ALLEN³, L. MARTIN³, and C. POPPE³, Health Canada³, Guelph, ON.

F 4 - Association between Enterohemolysin2 (ehl2) Gene of Escherichia coli with Shiga Toxin Genes (stx). R.BENES, C.LIU, T.KRUK, C.PUCKNELL, E.BECKER, C.CLARK, G.WANG*.

F 5 - A study on hlyA in A. hydrophila: a correlation between hemolytic activity levels and cytotoxicity titres. C. LIU, R. BENES, T. KRUK, E. BECKER, C. CLARK, G. WANG*. Enterics Section, National Microbiology Laboratory, Population and Public Health Branch, Health Canada, Winnipeg, MB.

I 1 - Identification of Foodborne Pathogens by PCR Fragments Length Polymorphism. L. CHUI*, T. CHIU and J. XING. Provincial Laboratory for Public Health (Microbiology).

I 2 - Laboratory Acquired Shigella flexneri infections. H.RICHARDSON*, C.A.FLEMING, F.JAMIESON, C.RUTHERFORD, M.SARINA, B.TOYE, D.ZOUTMAN and D.E.LOW. Quality Management Program Laboratory Services, Toronto, Ontario.

I 3 - A Major Food-borne Outbreak of Shigellosis in Ontario. B. CIEBIN*, A. LI*, P. BOLESCZCUK*, J. WAN*, R. AHMED**, C. CLARK**, G. RILEY*, A. CURRIE***, D. MIDDLETON***, F. JAMIESON**. Clinical and Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, CPHL, Laboratories Branch, MOHLTC, Toronto, ON ** National Laboratory for Enteric Pathogens, Winnipeg, MA ***Public Health Branch, MOHLTC, Toronto, ON.

I 4 - Identification of Hippurate Negative Campylobacter jejuni. L.J. PRICE*¹, D.LWOODWARD¹, C. G. CLARK¹, P. MELITO¹, L.J. BRYDEN¹, A. MOTORASSED¹, J.MOSES¹, M. LORANGE², and L. RINGUETTE². ¹ National Laboratory for Enteric Pathogens (NLEP), National Microbiology Laboratory, Winnipeg, Manitoba, ²Laboratoire de sant publique de Quebec (LSPQ).

I 5 - Differentiation of Hippurate Negative Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli by Cellular Fatty Acid Profile and by 23S rRNA Nucleic Acid Sequencing. P. RAWTE, B.CIEBIN, J. LABELLE, S. BROWN, A. LI and F. JAMIESON. Clinical and Environmental Laboratory, Laboratories Branch, MOHLTC, Toronto, ON.

P 2 - An Evaluation of fbAFLP as an Appropriate Method for the Molecular Typing of Campylobacter. C. GEALL,¹* R. MCDONALD,¹ P. PIERONI,² N. ANTONISHYN,¹ and G. HORSMAN^1,2. Molecular Diagnostics¹ and Bacteriology,² Provincial Laboratory, Saskatchewan Health, Regina, SK.

P 29 - Failure to Detect Listeria monocytogenes in Diarrheal Stool Specimens in Children in the Ottawa Region using Selective and Enrichment Stool Culture Methods. R. SLINGER*, F. CHAN, N. STEWART, J. TANG, F. PAGOTTO, J. FARBER. Childrens Hospital of Eastern Ontario and Food Directorate, Health Canada, Ottawa ON.


Antimicrobials
G 1 - Pharmacodynamic Modelling of Beta-Lactams Versus Penicillin-Resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae Simulating Clinically Achievable Free Serum Concentrations. G.G. ZHANEL*, M. DECORBY, A. NOREDDIN, B. BEWICK, N. LAING, K. NICHOL, S. FORGIE, and D.J. HOBAN. Health Sciences Centre and University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB.

G 2 - Pharmacokinetic Simulation of Levofloxacin in 263 Elderly Immunocompetent and 74 Immunocompromised Hospitalized Patients. A. M. NOREDDIN, T. MARRAS, C. CHAN, J. JUTI, C. NIGHTINGALE, D. J. HOBAN, and G. G. ZHANEL*. University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, University Health Network and University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, and Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT.

G 3 - A Phenotypic and Genotypic Study of Helicobacter pylori Antimicrobial Susceptibility. P. L. MELITO¹*, S. HARVIE¹, L. BRYDEN¹, S. GIERCKE², D.L. WOODWARD¹, P. VAN CAESEELE², C.G. CLARK¹. National Laboratory for Enteric Pathogens, National Microbiology Laboratory, Health Canada¹. Cadham Provincial Laboratory², Winnipeg, MB.

G 4 - Characterization of Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL) Activity in Haemophilus parainfluenzae. MUSGRAVE H, PITOUT MJ, FORWARD K, HILTZ M, DAVIDSON RJ. Division of Microbiology, Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre, Halifax, NS.

G 5 - Accuracy of the Vitek 1 and Vitek 2 in Detecting Constitutive and Inducible Macrolide Resistance In Group B Streptococci (GBS). M. SKULNICK¹*, M. LUM1, P. NG¹, G. W. SMALL¹, K. WONG¹, B. M. WILLEY¹, A. E. SIMOR², D. E. LOW¹ and T. MAZZULLI¹. Toronto Medical Laboratories / Mount Sinai Hospital¹, Sunnybrook Women's College Health Sciences² and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

G 6 - The Mechanisms of Development of Cephamycin Resistance in E. coli. B. CLARK, H. MUSGRAVE, M. HILTZ, K.R. FORWARD, Depts. of Pathology, Microbiology Immunology, Medicine, Dalhousie U, and Queen Elizabeth II HSC, Halifax, NS.

P 25 - Investigation of Staphylococcus aureus (SA) with Vitek-1 Erythromycin-Intermediate Susceptibilities. Comparison with Vitek-2 and BD Phoenix. P. TANG^1,2, K. PIKE^1,2, A. SIMOR², S. RICHARDSON³, D.E. LOW², B.M. WILLEY². Toronto Medical Labs/Mount Sinai Hospital ¹ , Toronto, ON, Canada; Sunnybrook and Women’s College Health Sciences Centre², Toronto, ON, Canada; and Hospital for Sick Children³, Toronto, ON, Canada.

P 26 - A Pilot Study into the Utilization of Antimicrobial Susceptibility Test Results in a Tertiary Care Centre. KANCHANA MANICKAM, CAROL BARTH, ELIZABETH THOMAS. Regina General Hospital, Regina, SK.


Laboratory Surveillance
P 8 - Monitoring Two Outbreaks of Influenza A (H3N2) and (H1N2) in Saskatchewan, 2001-2002. K. BRANDT¹, Y. LI², E. CHAN¹, G. HORSMAN¹ . Provincial Laboratory¹ (PL), Regina, Saskatchewan and National Microbiology Laboratory² (NML), Winnipeg, Manitoba.

P 14 - fbAFLP Molecular Subtyping of Salmonella Enteritidis Isolates Associated with a Food-Borne Outbreak in Ontario. R. MCDONALD,¹* B. CIEBIN,² N. ANTONISHYN,¹ R. AHMED,³ C. CLARK,³ F. JAMIESON,² and G. HORSMAN.¹. Provincial Laboratory, Saskatchewan Health, Regina, SK,¹ Ontario Central Public Health Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Etobicoke, ON,² and National Laboratory for Enteric Pathogens, Health Canada, Winnipeg, MB.³.

P 20 - Employing an Avian Surveillance Program for the Detection of West Nile Virus in Canada: 2001-2002. M.A. DREBOT*, M. ANDONOVA, I. BARKER, R. LINDSAY, H. WEINGARTL, P. BUCK, P. SOCKETT and H. ARTSOB. Zoonotic Diseases and Special Pathogens, National Microbiology Laboratory, Health Canada, Winnipeg, MB; University of Guelph, Guelph, ON; National Centre for Foreign Animal Diseases, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Winnipeg, ON; Centre for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Health Canada, Ottawa ,ON.

P 24 - Antimicrobial Resistance in Nosocomial Gram Positive Pathogens, Results of 7 Years of Surveillance in Ontario. K. GREEN¹, C.A. FLEMING², H. RICHARDSON², D.E. LOW¹, B. WILLEY¹, A. MCGEER¹. TML AND K. GREEN.

P 33 - Epidemiology of Coagulase-Negative Staphylococcal (CNST) Bacteremia in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). A. KWASNICKA³, B. M. WILLEY¹, E. KELLY², A. ASHI-SULAIMAN¹, W. LEE¹, L. STOAKES⁴, A. McGEER^1,3. Departments of Microbiology¹ and Neonatology², Mount Sinai Hospital/University of Toronto³, Toronto; and London Health Sciences Centre⁴, London, Ontario.